From left, Alicia Kiley, Maggie Carangelo and Samantha Smith, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press Association, at Greenwich Academy, in Greenwich, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. less

From left, Alicia Kiley, Maggie Carangelo and Samantha Smith, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press ... more

From left, Alicia Kiley, Maggie Carangelo and Samantha Smith, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press Association, at Greenwich Academy, in Greenwich, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. less

From left, Alicia Kiley, Maggie Carangelo and Samantha Smith, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press ... more

Olivia Alchek, Samantha Smith, Alicia Kiley, and Maggie Carangelo, all 17 and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press Association at Greenwich Academy, in Greenwich, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. less

Olivia Alchek, Samantha Smith, Alicia Kiley, and Maggie Carangelo, all 17 and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia ... more

Olivia Alchek, Samantha Smith, Alicia Kiley, and Maggie Carangelo, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia Press Association at Greenwich Academy, in Greenwich, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. less

Olivia Alchek, Samantha Smith, Alicia Kiley, and Maggie Carangelo, all 17, and seniors, work on Daedalus, the school's literary and art publication, which was recently honored with a Gold Medal by the Columbia ... more

In their glass-encased edifice, a group of Greenwich students only have to look up for inspiration.

Gazing at the sky, especially on clear days, they can imagine an audacious airborne escape by one of their heroes.

Unlike that intrepid inventor, these students are not constructing avian props to flee from an oppressive king. But they exhibit a similarly conscientious and driven approach to their work.

Within the luminous Upper School building, Greenwich Academy students produce a publication that has grown into one of the top showcases in the country for high-school literary and visual-art works.

The magazine takes its title and guiding creative principles from Daedalus, the ancient Athenian who created the Minotaur's labyrinth and the wings that carried him and his son, Icarus, away from King Minos.

While the publication's namesake unilaterally fashioned his creations, Daedalus derives its strength from many students' ideas and a collective commitment to excellence.

"When we start collaborating, that's when you start seeing the beauty of the magazine," said senior Alicia Kiley, co-editor-in-chief of Daedalus.

"You start seeing how artwork can bring more out of a piece or how a piece of writing can bring a full story out of a piece of artwork. Seeing how those two things mesh together is what I think makes Daedalus so unique and inspiring for a lot of people."

Each issue encompasses an array of writing and visual-arts pieces, including poetry, short stories and personal essays and prints of paintings, drawings, sculptures and digital media.

This year's Daedalus totals about 100 pages, showcasing dozens of students' works. Assembling each annual issue of Daedalus comprises a year-long process involving a staff of approximately 50 students. The magazine sponsors a writer-of-the-month contest five times a year to solicit entries.

"One thing I like about Daedalus is the democratic aspect of it," said senior Maggie Carangelo, co-editor-in-chief. "Every month, we get submissions, and then it's not just the editors choosing. Everyone at the meeting will vote, and that's ultimately what it comes down to."

Staffers also review many visual-arts submissions.

"One thing that I love is that you're basically going through (visual arts adviser) Ms. (Sherry) Tamalonis' computer and seeing all the artwork that's generated by students throughout the year," said senior Olivia Alchek, co-art editor.

"You get so inspired, it's all the different ages, and it's fun to see what everyone has come up with."

In March, editors narrow the selections and begin production, a process that continues through April with art, layout and page design.

The editors also work closely with Daedalus' printer.

This year's cover shows the likeness of a GA student who modeled for a drawing, which was then made into a linoleum block.

That figure overlays a vibrant watercolor painting.

"It's important that the artwork complements the writing that goes with it," said senior Samantha Smith, co-art editor. "There's a nice kind of fluidity to the magazine."

Since Daedalus' inception in 1988, visual-arts teacher Sherry Tamalonis and English teacher Jeff Schwartz, the publication's faculty adviser, have guided its growth.

"Now, it's kind of expected, and people look for the magazine and are proud of it. It's part of the institution. Every year, it builds on what preceded it, and it finds ways to break new ground."

The school has since emerged as a ferment of creative expression and exploration, with writing workshops, author visits and a writers festival co-sponsored with Convent of the Sacred Heart and Brunswick School ingrained in the school's arts programming.

While Tamalonis and Schwartz play an important role in the development of each issue, they also grant staffers creative autonomy.

"Often their choices are different than the choices I would make, and often they're better," Tamalonis said.

"I think it's appropriate that the kids make those choices. Knowing that everybody takes pride in it gives you a certain responsibility to keep it going and make it great. Each year, they try to make it just a little bit better."

Daedalus staffers view their peers' broad, sustained commitment and interest in the arts as integral to their publication's continued success.

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"Daedalus isn't this exclusive thing," Kiley added. "It's very open and communal. It's something the whole school can work on together."